Repairs for northside pool, Forest Hills tennis get attention, as La Crosse mayor puts emphasis on neighborhoods

Tennis courts and a neighborhood swimming pool could be high on the list of public projects funded by La Crosse City Hall over the next year.

On Monday, the City Plan Commission discussed $600,000 proposed for repairs to the Forest Hills tennis courts, along with $900,000 to upgrade the Northside Side Community Pool — both of which have been identified as needed projects for years.

Erickson Pool is being closed this summer for $450,000 in repairs, while Northside is set to be closed next summer.

The pool needs a new liner and could get a new roof. As for tennis, regular programs at Forest Hills have been moved across town to the Green Island tennis courts for this summer.

City officials told the commission that the tennis courts and the pool could be closed down for good if major repairs are not made soon.

Those two facilities were on a list of five items proposed for inclusion in the next capital improvement budget, but the commission voted 4-3 against adding them to the budget at this time.

The next public meeting over the Capital Improvement Budget is at 6 p.m. June 17 at the city council chambers.

During the commission meeting, Mayor Mitch Reynolds addressed a perception among some La Crosse residents that neighborhood needs are not a priority for the city.

“Our planning department spends all of its time working to improve our city and our neighborhoods,” Reynolds said. “They literally lose sleep over things that we are attempting to do to improve our city and our neighborhoods.”

The mayor added that it was “frankly offensive” to find that some residents don’t think neighborhoods are a priority issue.